G/TBT/N/USA/552/Rev.3  
8 April 2024  
(24-2951) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
Revision  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6.  
 
1. Notifying Member:  UNITED STATES OF AMERICA  
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:   
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, email and website 
addresses, if available) of  agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if diff erent from above:   
Please submit comments to the USA TBT Enquiry Point via e -mail: usatbtep@nist.gov  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [  ], 5.6.2 [X], 5.7.1 [  ], 3.2 [  ], 7.2 [  ], 
other :  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading.  ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Central air 
conditioners and heat pumps; Air conditioning machines incorporating a refriger ating unit 
and a valve for reversal of the cooling -heat cycle "reversible heat pumps" (excl. of a kind 
used for persons in motor vehicles and self -contained or "split -system" window or wall air 
conditioning machines) (HS code(s): 841581); Heat pumps (excl.  air conditioning 
machines of heading 8415) (HS code(s): 841861); Product and company certification. 
Conformity assessment (ICS code(s): 03.120.20); Environment and environmental 
protection in general (ICS code(s): 13.020.01); Test conditions and procedure s in general 
(ICS code(s): 19.020); Ventilators. Fans. Air -conditioners (ICS code(s): 23.120); Heat 
pumps (ICS code(s): 27.080)  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Energy 
Conservation Program: Test Procedure for Central Air  Conditioners and Heat Pumps; (61 
page(s), in English)  
6. Description of content:  Notice of proposed rulemaking and announcement of public 
meeting on 25 April 2024 - The U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE") proposes to amend 
the Federal test procedure for central air conditioners and heat pumps ("CAC/HPs")  to 
incorporate by reference the latest versions of the  applicable industry standards. 
Specifically, DOE proposes: to amend the current test procedure for CAC/HPs ("appendix 
M1") for measuring the current cooling and heating metrics —seasonal energy efficiency 
ratio 2 ("SEER2") and heating seasonal performance factor 2 ("HSPF2"), respectively; and 
to establish a new test procedure ("appendix M2") for CAC/HPs that would adopt two new 
metrics—seasonal cooling and off -mode rating efficiency ("SCORE") and seasonal heating 
and off -mode rating efficiency ("SHORE"). Te sting to the SCORE and SHORE metrics would 
not be required until such time as compliance is required with any amended energy 
conservation standard based on the new metrics. Additionally, DOE proposes to amend 
certain provisions of DOE's regulations related  to representations and enforcement for G/TBT/N/USA/552/Rev.3  
 
- 2 - 
 
  CAC/HPs. DOE welcomes written comments from the public on any subject within the 
scope of this document (including relevant topics not raised in this proposal), as well as 
the submission of data and other relevant in formation.  
DOE will hold a public meeting via webinar on Thursday, 25 April 2024, from 1:00 p.m. 
to 4:00 p.m.  Eastern Time ( ET). See section V ( here), "Public Participation," for webinar 
registration information, participant instructions, and information about the capabilities 
available to webinar participants. Information will also be published on DOE's website at 
www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/stan dards.aspx?productid=48&ac
tion=viewlive . Participants are responsible for ensuring their systems are compatible with 
the webinar software.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Prevention of deceptive practices and consumer protection; Protection of the 
environment; Quality requirements   
8. Relevant documents:   
89 Federal Register (FR) 24206; Title 10 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 429  and 
Part 430  
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2024-04-05/html/2024 -04784.htm  
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2024-04-05/pdf/2024 -04784.pdf  
This action is identified by Docket Number EERE -2022-BT-TP-0028. The Docket Folder is 
available from Regulations.gov  at https://www.regulations.gov/docket/EERE -2022-BT-
TP-0028/document  and provides acc ess to primary and supporting documents as well as 
comments received. Documents are also accessible from Regulations.gov  by searching 
the Docket Number.  
9. Proposed date of adopt ion: To be determined  
Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined  
10. Final date for comments:  4 June 2024; WTO Members and their stakeholders are asked 
to submit comments to the USA TBT Enquiry Point by or before 4pm ( http://time -
time.net/times/time -zones/usa -canada/current -eastern -time-est.php ) Eastern Time 
(https://24timezones.com/time -zone/et ) on 4 June 2024. Comments received by the USA 
TBT Enquiry Point from WTO Members and their stakeholders will be shared wit h DOE and 
will also be submitted to the Docket on Regulations.gov if received within the comment 
period.  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone or fax 
numbers  and email and website address es, if available , of other body:   
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2024/TBT/USA/24_02486_00_e.pdf